Flange attachment

Abstract

An insulating device includes a body portion including a first surface feature extending between a first surface end and a second surface end. The first surface end defines a first surface cross-sectional size. The second surface end defines a second surface cross-sectional size. The second surface cross-sectional size is less than the first surface cross-sectional size. The body portion includes a second surface feature extending between a third surface end and a fourth surface end. The third surface end defines a third surface cross-sectional size. The fourth surface end defines a fourth surface cross-sectional size. The fourth surface cross-sectional size is less than the third surface cross-sectional size. The insulating device includes a flange portion having a flange wall. The flange wall includes a first mating portion that engages the first surface feature and a second mating portion that engages the second surface feature of the body portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An insulating device comprising:
 a body portion extending along a body axis, the body portion comprising:
 a first surface feature, at a first location along the body axis, extending between a first surface end and a second surface end, the first surface end defining a first surface cross-sectional size, the second surface end defining a second surface cross-sectional size, wherein the second surface cross-sectional size is less than the first surface cross-sectional size; and 
 a second surface feature, at a second location along the body axis, extending between a third surface end and a fourth surface end, the third surface end defining a third surface cross-sectional size, the fourth surface end defining a fourth surface cross-sectional size, wherein the fourth surface cross-sectional size is less than the third surface cross-sectional size; 
 
 a flange portion extending along a flange axis that is substantially parallel to the body axis, the flange portion comprising a flange wall defining a flange opening into which the body portion is received, the flange wall of the flange portion comprising:
 a first mating portion at a first location along the flange axis, the first mating portion configured to engage the first surface feature of the body portion; and 
 a second mating portion at a second location along the flange axis, the second mating portion configured to engage the second surface feature of the body portion; and 
 
 an attachment structure defining an attachment opening into which the body portion is received, a first side of the attachment structure configured to engage the body portion, a second side of the attachment structure configured to engage the flange portion, wherein the attachment structure is configured to promote engagement of the first mating portion with the first surface feature. 
 
     
     
       2. The insulating device of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment structure is positioned adjacent a surface of the first surface end. 
     
     
       3. The insulating device of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment structure is positioned adjacent a surface of the second surface end. 
     
     
       4. An insulating device comprising:
 a body portion extending along a body axis, the body portion comprising:
 a first surface feature, at a first location along the body axis, extending between a first surface end and a second surface end, the first surface end defining a first surface cross-sectional size, the second surface end defining a second surface cross-sectional size, wherein the second surface cross-sectional size is less than the first surface cross-sectional size; and 
 a second surface feature, at a second location along the body axis, extending between a third surface end and a fourth surface end, the third surface end defining a third surface cross-sectional size, the fourth surface end defining a fourth surface cross-sectional size, wherein the fourth surface cross-sectional size is less than the third surface cross-sectional size; and 
 
 a flange portion extending along a flange axis that is substantially parallel to the body axis, the flange portion comprising a flange wall defining a flange opening into which the body portion is received, the flange wall of the flange portion comprising:
 a first mating portion at a first location along the flange axis, the first mating portion configured to engage the first surface feature of the body portion; and 
 a second mating portion at a second location along the flange axis, the second mating portion configured to engage the second surface feature of the body portion; 
 
 wherein the body portion has an outer surface comprising a first projection portion, the first projection portion projecting in a projection direction that is substantially perpendicular to the body axis; and 
 wherein an inner surface of the flange wall defines a first projection opening, the first projection opening of the flange portion receiving the first projection portion of the body portion when the body portion is received within the flange opening of the flange portion such that rotational movement of the flange portion with respect to the body portion about the flange axis and rotational movement of the body portion with respect to the flange portion about the body axis is limited. 
 
     
     
       5. An insulating device comprising:
 a body portion extending along a body axis, the body portion comprising:
 a first surface feature, at a first location along the body axis, extending between a first surface end and a second surface end, the first surface end defining a first surface cross-sectional size, the second surface end defining a second surface cross-sectional size, wherein the second surface cross-sectional size is less than the first surface cross-sectional size, the first surface feature defining a first outer surface that extends substantially linearly between the first surface end and the second surface end; and 
 
 a flange portion extending along a flange axis that is substantially parallel to the body axis, the flange portion comprising a flange wall defining a flange opening into which the body portion is received, the flange wall of the flange portion comprising:
 a first mating portion at a first location along the flange axis, the first mating portion configured to engage the first surface feature of the body portion. 
 
 
     
     
       6. The insulating device of  claim 5 , wherein the first mating portion extends between a first mating end and a second mating end, the first mating end of the first mating portion defining a first mating cross-sectional size, the second mating end of the first mating portion defining a second mating cross-sectional size, wherein the second mating cross-sectional size is less than the first mating cross-sectional size. 
     
     
       7. The insulating device of  claim 6 , wherein the first mating cross-sectional size is substantially equal to the first surface cross-sectional size, the second mating cross-sectional size is substantially equal to the second surface cross-sectional size. 
     
     
       8. The insulating device of  claim 6 , the flange portion comprising a second mating portion at a second location along the flange axis, the second mating portion configured to engage a second surface feature of the body portion, wherein the second mating portion extends between a third mating end and a fourth mating end, the third mating end of the second mating portion defining a third mating cross-sectional size, the fourth mating end of the second mating portion defining a fourth mating cross-sectional size, wherein the fourth mating cross-sectional size is less than the third mating cross-sectional size. 
     
     
       9. The insulating device of  claim 8 , wherein the mating ends are arranged axially from a first end to a second end of the body portion in order of the first mating end, the second mating end, the third mating end, and the fourth mating end. 
     
     
       10. The insulating device of  claim 8 , wherein the mating ends are arranged axially from a first end to a second end of the body portion in order of the second mating end, the first mating end, the third mating end, and the fourth mating end. 
     
     
       11. The insulating device of  claim 8 , wherein the mating ends are arranged axially from a first end to a second end of the body portion in order of the first mating end, the second mating end, the fourth mating end, and the third mating end. 
     
     
       12. The insulating device of  claim 8 , wherein a first surface opening angle, defined between the first surface feature and a reference axis that is substantially parallel to the body axis, is substantially equal to a first mating opening angle, defined between the first mating portion and the reference axis. 
     
     
       13. The insulating device of  claim 5 , wherein the first surface cross-sectional size defines a maximum cross-sectional size of the body portion. 
     
     
       14. The insulating device of  claim 5 , wherein the body portion extends between a first end and a second end, the first surface end in closer proximity to the first end than the second surface end is to the first end. 
     
     
       15. The insulating device of  claim 14 , wherein a first end cross-sectional size of the body portion is substantially constant between the first end and the first surface end. 
     
     
       16. The insulating device of  claim 14 , wherein a first end cross-sectional size of the body portion is non-increasing between the first end and the first surface end. 
     
     
       17. The insulating device of  claim 14 , wherein a second end cross-sectional size of the body portion is non-increasing between the second end and the second surface end. 
     
     
       18. The insulating device of  claim 14 , wherein the flange portion is configured to receive the body portion through the flange opening such that the flange portion is configured to move with respect to the body portion along the body axis from the second end to the first surface feature. 
     
     
       19. The insulating device of  claim 5 , wherein an inner surface of an end of the flange portion is spaced a distance apart from an outer surface of the body portion to define an opening between the inner surface of the end of the flange portion and the outer surface of the body portion. 
     
     
       20. The insulating device of  claim 19 , wherein an end cross-sectional size of the inner surface of the end of the flange portion is greater than the first surface cross-sectional size of the first surface end of the first surface feature. 
     
     
       21. The insulating device of  claim 5 , comprising at least one compression structure disposed radially between the body portion and the flange portion. 
     
     
       22. The insulating device of  claim 21 , the at least one compression structure comprising a first compression structure and a second compression structure. 
     
     
       23. The insulating device of  claim 22 , the first compression structure contacting the first surface feature at an inner radial side of the compression structure. 
     
     
       24. The insulating device of  claim 23 , the first compression structure contacting the first mating portion at an outer radial side of the compression structure. 
     
     
       25. The insulating device of  claim 22 , the flange portion defining a first channel within which the first compression structure is received, the flange portion defining a second channel within which the second compression structure is received. 
     
     
       26. The insulating device of  claim 22 , the second compression structure spaced a distance apart from the first compression structure, the second compression structure contacting the body portion at a second inner radial side of the second compression structure and the flange portion at a second outer radial side of the second compression structure. 
     
     
       27. The insulating device of  claim 5 , comprising an attachment structure defining an attachment opening into which the body portion is received. 
     
     
       28. The insulating device of  claim 27 , the attachment structure configured to engage the body portion and the flange portion to attach the flange portion with respect to the body portion. 
     
     
       29. The insulating device of  claim 28 , comprising a third compression structure positioned between the attachment structure and the first mating portion.